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Heavy Hitters

Haye can take a step closer to a title shot with a KO win

The spotlight falls on two of boxing’s most hotly contested divisions this weekend. In the heavyweight class, Deontay Wilder’s world title defence is cancelled because Russian opponent Alexander Povetkin was found to be popping the same pills as Maria Sharapova, but we still have another David Haye-demolition day, and a final, final eliminator to be the next one to contest Anthony Joshua’s belt between Joseph Parker and Carlos Takam.

The super welterweight division is more like a pugilist version of Love Island, with everybody hooking up with everybody else at the same time. Jermall Charlo offers the shot at his crown to former champ Austin Trout, Charlo’s twin brother Jermell disputes a vacant strap with John Jackson, and Erislandy Lara puts up his title in a rematch with Vanes Martirosyan. Only Liverpool’s Liam Smith, the other title holder, hasn’t been invited to this party.

Once upon a time Haye fought seven foot Russian monsters on pay-per-view but these days he’s beating up nobodies on Dave, ‘home of witty banter’. Arnold Gjergjaj might be unbeaten but he’s not any good, and you’re likely to spend more time trying to pronounce his name than he is in the ring.

The Kosovan’s biggest fight to date was against Denis Bakhtov, who Joshua stopped in two rounds, and Gjergjaj got dropped in that fight before lumbering to a points win. ‘Hayemaker’ is a vicious puncher, with 25 KO victories to his name, and he stopped his last opponent in 2 minutes 11 seconds.

Paddy goesHaye wins in 60 seconds but I think the man with a name like an impossible countdown conundrum will use his one advantage over the Brit, his height, to delay the inevitable. Haye winning in rounds 1-3 atis almost nailed on and I like thefor Haye to win in the second.

The other of Saturday’s heavyweight bouts is televised from New Zealand on Sky around the time you’ll be having your lunch, and this should be a much more competitive affair. Parker is the young, unbeaten prospect fighting at home and Takam is the rugged veteran visiting from Cameroon.

Parker was offered the fight with Takam twice last year but his team bottled it, and only now with the carrot of a world title shot do they feel brave enough to have a go. The Kiwi is onlyto be knocked down in the fight but I think he’ll start cautiously, using his height advantage and jab.

Takam has only been stopped by Povetkin, when he was gassing late on, but he is in the shape of his life for this eliminator. Atthe away fighter is not quite long enough to back but I don’t think Parker has the experience to finish Takam either. The clever money is for Parker on points at.

First up on the super welterweight roundabout, which can all be seen on Boxnation, is Jermall Charlo’s first world class test against experienced southpaw Trout. Charlo is on a run of 16 wins inside the distance from his last 17 contests but this weekend he is up against a man who has never stopped.

Trout has been 12 rounds with Miguel Cotto, Saul Alvarez and Lara, winning against the former, and losing the other two. Charlo is taller and longer than all of those guys and he can win the battle on the outside. Paddy is spot on with his prices for this bout but Jermall on points atis still value.

American’s Jermall and Jermell were raised in a boxing family to be outstanding amateurs, but it is still impressive that they can both be unbeaten world champions just days after their 26th birthday. Jermell might be a minute younger and a fraction less powerful, he only has one stoppage victory in five outings, but I think he can win before the final bell against Jackson.

‘Dah Rock’ from the U.S. Virgin Islands has power of his own but also a dodgy defence, and he was sparked out with one punch by Andy Lee when they met in 2014. Jermell’s last thee stoppages have come in round six or later and I’m backing Charlo atto pick up the vacant belt in rounds 7-12.

The roundabout is in full swing by the time we get to Lara and Martirosyan. These two fought out a testy draw in 2012 but since then Lara beat Trout clearly on points in 2013, while Martirosyan lost a close but unanimous decision to Jermell Charlo in 2015.

The champ from Cuba is the one who can improve his performance the most from the original contest and a solid bet is Lara by decision at. If you need a bigger price to keep you awake for the action in Vegas, betting on another draw is.